New Delhi, July 8
The long drawn-out leadership battle in Karnataka ended here today after a beleaguered Sadananda Gowda stepped down as Chief Minister to make way for Lingayat leader Jagadish Shettar.

As per the script finalised by the BJP top brass over a series of intense discussions in the past several days, Gowda met party president Nitin Gadkari this morning and submitted his resignation to him.

Later, Gadkari told mediapersons, "Sadananda Gowda offered to resign for the larger good of the party. The party has accepted his resignation,” adding that it has been decided to make Rural Development Minister Jagadish Shettar the new Karnataka Chief Minister, making him the third CM in the past four years.

Gadkari heaped praise on the outgoing Chief Minister, but admitted that the move to replace him was borne out of political compulsions. "Sadananda Gowda has done a good job as Chief Minister for 11 months. There is no complaint against his work,” adding that the party took the decision keeping the forthcoming elections in mind.

Senior BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh will be going to Bangalore tomorrow as observers for the election of the new CM by the legislature party.

On his part, Gowda has said he would always be loyal to the party and would extend full cooperation to the new Chief Minister. “My central leaders have taken a decision for change of leadership in Karnataka for political reasons...

I will be loyal to the party in future also. The incoming CM will be given all cooperation from me,” he said.

Shettar’s elevation is a major victory for former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa who has kept up the pressure on the party leadership ever since he was forced to step down after his indictment in an illegal mining case. He handpicked Vokaliga leader Sadananda Gowda as his successor but once relations between the two soured, he raised a banner of revolt and insisted that his nominee Shettar be made Chief Minister.

Although the party was not happy with Yeddyurappa’s strong arm tactics, it eventually gave in to him in view of his popularity with the influential Lingayat community whose support had enabled the BJP to form its first government in southern India. Its hands were also forced as Yeddyurappa commands the support of more than half the BJP legislators.

As Karnataka is headed for Assembly elections next year, it became imperative for the BJP to put an end to the internal bickering and also maintain the delicate caste in the poll-bound state. It agreed to bring in Shettar, who is also a Lingayat like Yeddyurappa, in the hope that the community will remain loyal to the BJP.

While appeasing the Lingayats, the BJP is also working on placating the Vokaliga community which could be unhappy over Gowda’s ouster.

It is likely to accommodate Gowda in the Rajya Sabha while Kuruba leader Eshwarappa, president of the state party unit, may be elevated as Deputy Chief Minister though Gadkari denied any plans to appoint a deputy to Shettar.